India Women’s attack sans Jhulan Goswami bowled the team to a 109-run win against Sri Lanka Women in their last warm-up match ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup, 2017. Captain Mithali Raj scored an 89-ball 85 to set the opponents a stiff target after openers Punam Raut (69 off 79) and Smriti Mandhana (44 off 58) got India off to a solid start. While Shikha Pandey claimed two wickets, the Indian spin contingent led by Rajeshwari Gayakwad wrapped SL up for 166. The left-arm spinner finished with four for 12 in seven overs.
After Mithali elected to win, the Indian openers bided their time at the crease before steadily gleaning runs off the SL bowlers. The Raut-Mandhana pair steadily built the innings as they laid a platform for a formidable total. Their partnership was worth 92 until Inoka Ranaweera claimed Mandhana to end the stand. The skipper the joined the opener in capitalising on the start. However, 49 runs later, Raut was sent back by Harshitha Madavi.
Although Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for three, Mithali continued to hold one end up. She found an able ally in Mona Meshram and the pair added 71 for the fourth wicket until the latter was run out. Deepti Sharma was the next to return to pavilion for two and 16 runs later, Mithali’s innings was brought to a halt by Ama Kanchana. Veda Krishnamurthy then took the team to 275 for eight with an unbeaten 20 off 18 balls.
Defending the total, Pandey accounted for Nipuni Hansika to leave SL on six for one. Hasini Perera and Chamari Athapaththu then stitched a 48-run stand until Meshram ran out the latter to give India a crucial breakthrough.
Gayakwad soon followed up with the wicket of the opener to leave SL on 61 for three. However, Dilani Manodara and Prasadani Weerakkodi joined forces and plodded on to 74 for the fourth wicket until Pandey bowled the latter and left SL on 135 for four in the 39th over.
The Indian attack maintained a tight leash on the batters as they curbed the flow of runs. The spinners struck at quick intervals to bowl SL out for 166. While Gayakwad claimed a four-for, Ekta Bisht and Deepti Sharma too claimed a wicket each as they took India to a comprehensive win.
